Imagine you are throwing a big dinner party at your house for friends, colleagues, and associates in Chicago. You arrive home from work, just two hours before the party. There is just barely enough time left to clean, decorate, and cook before the evening’s festivities. But suddenly, to your horror, you realize you lost your house keys and are locked out of your house! With the clock ticking down until your party, you immediately call the first locksmith you can find.
Like all businesses, locksmithing has its share of unconscionable practitioners who take advantage of situations like this. Pressed by a sense of urgency and a lack of patience, customers are willing to hire any locksmith to rectify their situation as soon as possible without considering price or safety. After dealing with such unethical locksmiths, many customers find themselves in worse situations than simple lockouts.
In order to keep this from happening to you, here are some things to consider when hiring a locksmith:
Get the Price Before Hiring
How much should it cost to pick a lock? $50, $100, $500? The price is in the eye of the beholder, and unscrupulous locksmiths will charge as much as they can get away with. There are currently no laws in Chicago that limit what a locksmith can charge. Even if you’re in a hurry and leaking patience, it’s worth it to compare estimates from a handful of locksmiths over the phone before choosing one. In order to get an accurate quote, provide as many details as possible – such as the type of lock, the manufacturer, and the material of the door. Ask for their minimum charge for a service call and ask about overlooked details, like travel expenses.
Licensed and Bonded
Keep in mind, when you are hiring the services of a locksmith, you are essentially paying someone to break into your house or car. How do you know this person can be trusted? Make sure they are licensed and bonded. A bonded locksmith has a background check, fingerprints, and criminal check collected by the FBI as a security measure so they can’t easily rob your home or drive off in your car. Credentials for locksmithing can come from the Associated Locksmiths of America (ALA), but be wary if they are certified through a correspondence course. Also, make sure you ask to see their pocket license when they arrive – and make sure the license is actually theirs and not someone else’s.
Are They Insured?
Why does a locksmith need insurance? It’s not unheard of for a locksmith to accidentally damage property material while inserting or opening a lock. Faulty work or repair can lead to damages and the insurance will ensure they have sufficient funds to cover these losses. Insurance also covers the locksmith in the event that he or she accidentally harms the customer.
As we’ve all experienced at one time or another, it is not fun to be locked out. But it’s even less fun to be ripped off by dishonest locksmiths. Never act in haste and always take a moment to question your locksmith. A little bit of healthy skepticism can save you a lot of headache.
For an ethical, fair locksmith for all your locking and unlocking needs, call Omega Locksmith. Omega Locksmith offers a variety of laser cut keys, transponder keys, computer chip keys, VATS Keys and is available 24/7.
